Harden's survey result
Summary
“One of the best value top-end restaurants in London” – Angela Hartnett’s London flagship (celebrating its fifteenth anniversary) scored consistently highly in this year’s annual diners’ poll and is the rare kind of fancy Mayfair destination where folks like spending their own money rather than needing corporate plastic. The Italian-inspired cuisine is “very accomplished”, with “flavours seemingly so simply presented, you know the effort that must have gone into each elegant dish”. Staff are “helpful but unobtrusive” and contribute to an overall experience that “never fails to hit the spot”. In August 2023, the establishment announced a total refurb (complete with glass chandelier from Venice), and the appointment of George Ormond as Head Chef, who takes over from Emily Brightman.
Summary
“Technically accomplished”, Italian-inspired cuisine (which, at heart, is quite “classical”) from Angela Hartnett, served “in a sophisticated-yet-relaxed setting, by outstanding-yet-unobtrusive staff” continues to inspire the many fans of her unflashy-yet-luxurious venue in Mayfair. But, while most diners applaud its overall performance, it has inspired a variety of gripes of late: the décor can be too “muted” for some tastes, and some repeat visitors have admitted to feeling “underwhelmed” of late by the odd “uninspiring” dish. On most accounts, though “the main difficulty here is answering the question: ‘how many courses?’” (the options being a 3-course, 4-course, 5-course or 6-course meal).
Summary
Angela Hartnett’s popular Mayfair HQ put in an impressively steady performance in this year’s survey, thanks to its “beautifully prepared and presented” cuisine – which comes at “relatively reasonable prices” for such a swanky address. Other pluspoints include very well-pitched service, and surroundings that, if low key, are very “calm and attractive”. (Note – although the website says the menu ‘is a reflection of Angela’s upbringing cooking alongside her Italian grandmother and aunts’, the actual dishes – though they do often nod to Italy – are actually in a fairly mainstream modern European mould).
Summary
With its “understated” style, Angela Hartnett’s “elegant-but-relaxed” HQ manages to be one of the most personal of the “luxury” central London restaurants run by a big name, particularly one in Mayfair. Under head chef, Oscar Holgado, the accomplished modern cuisine “with an Italian twist” is “first class”, as is the wine list: incredibly consistent and, “if not cheap, not wildly expensive”. But it’s the “professional service with a smile” that sets the seal on the experience: “warm, welcoming, and less pushy than at some other top destinations”. “I’d just returned from Rome and was worried I’d be disappointed, but in fact it topped things off with a level of refined luxury I enjoyed very much”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Murano?
20-22 Queen St, London, W1J 5PP
Restaurant details
Murano Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Had the most exceptional food and restaurant experience recently- will certainly return!"
"The pasta with ragú was delicious. A great set lunch menu. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £61.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
20-22 Queen St, London, W1J 5PP
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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